Galaktoboureko Greek Custard Pie Recipes

GREEK CUSTARD PIE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring the sugar, water, cinnamon stick and the squeezed lemon (not the juice. Keep the juice for other use) to a boil. Don't stir it. Simmer over low heat for 6-8 minutes. Remove from the heat and disregard the squeezed lemon. Cover the pot and set aside.
• Keep one cup (250ml) of milk and ½ cup (100g) sugar aside. In a large heavy-bottomed pot heat the remaining milk and sugar along with thezest, the vanilla extract and the cinnamon stick over medium heat.
• In a small bowl using a hand mixer (or in a stand mixer) beat the eggs and the egg yolks for about 5 minutes. Add the remaining ½ cup(100g) sugar and beat until it dissolves. Make sure the sugar is dissolved by rubbing a small amount of mixture in between your fingers. Add the semolina gradually and beat until combined. Finally add the remaining 1 cup (250ml) milk and beat for 2-3 minutes.
• Using a small ladle take some of the warm milk and add it to the egg-sugar-semolina mixture while stirring gently. Repeat until the mixture's temperature slightly rises. Pour the egg-sugar-semolina mixture into the warm milk and stir gently but constantly until small bubbles form around the edges. This may take up to 15 minutes or so. Remove from the heat.
• Disregard the cinnamon stick. Using a fork or knife melt the cold butter over the surface of the custard. Don't emerge the butter into the custard. Just brush gently and evenly all over the top with the butter and let the heat melt it. Your purpose is to create a buttered layer and keep the custard's surface from crusting. Let it aside to cool. When you will be ready to pour thescustard in the baking pan, you will stir well to incorporate the butter intosthe mixture.
• Melt the butter. Don't burn it. Let it aside to cool at roomtemperature.
• Follow the instructions in the post above and find out how to handle frozen and fresh phyllo pastry.
• Grease a 13 to 15-inch (35cm to 38cm) round baking dish/pan or a 15x11-inch (38×28 cm) rectangular. Layer the bottom of the pan with thefirst phyllo sheet and lightly press the sheet into the sides and corner andlet the edges hang over the top. Brush it with the melted butter. Place thesecond sheet crossways and brush it with butter as well. Repeat for another 5sheets. We need totally 7 sheets for the bottom, placed crossways and brushedwith melted butter. Don't worry about the overhanging phyllo because you willfold it over to cover the pie.
• Pour the cool custard over the bottom sheets and spread to the sides. Fold the pastry inwards over the custard. Layer 5 more phyllo sheets on top of the custard as you did the bottom, continuing to brush melted butter between layers. Don't forget to brush the sides and the overhanging parts too. Using a knife cut the excessive overhanging phyllo. Roll the edges down using your pastry brush to push them underneath the pan. Liberally brush the top and the edge with the rest of the butter.
• Score the top of the pie into pieces. Cut only the top sheets and don't touch the bottom at all.
• Sprinkle with water and bake at 356°F (180°C) on the bottom rack for about 1 hour, until golden. Remove the pie from the oven and using a big spoon or a small ladle pour the cool syrup evenly and really slowly overthe entire pie*.
• Allow the pie to sit for at least 1 hour before serving so that the syrup is absorbed. Serve warm and store leftover pie in the refrigeratorfor up to 5 days.

GALAKTOBOUREKO: GREEK CUSTARD PIE

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350 °F, 180 °C. ​Make the syrup: In a saucepan, combine the sugar, water, cinnamon stick, and orange juice. Stir well and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and pour the honey into the syrup. Mix well until incorporated. ​Set aside to cool completely. The syrup must be cold when poured over the hot pie so that way the phyllo stays nice and crisp. Make the Custard: Beat the eggs, yolks, half of the sugar, salt, semolina, and corn starch until thick and pale yellow. About 3 minutes. In the meantime warm up the milk in a saucepan with the remaining sugar until scalding hot. ​Temper the egg mixture by adding some hot milk and whisking well. Add the egg mixture to the milk in the saucepan and cook over low heat while continuously stirring until it thickens. Once it comes to a boil it will be at the correct thickness. ​Remove from heat and add vanilla extract and about 2 tablespoons of the melted butter, and the orange zest. Mix well to incorporate and set aside. ​Brush some butter all over the inside of a 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Line the inside of the pan with a sheet of phyllo. Drizzle the top with the melted butter. Layer all of the sides of the pan with sheets of phyllo (one sheet at a time) and drizzle butter over each sheet. Allow half of each sheet to hang outside of the pan (see the video) ​Pour the custard filling in the center and fold the phyllo sheets hanging over the sides on top of the filling drizzling each stack with butter. ​Place another stack of four sheets on top and tuck the excess phyllo into the sides of the pan. Drizzle with more butter. Do the same with the final remaining sheets of phyllo. ​Scour the pie into 12 slices or more if you will be serving smaller pieces. Try not to cut all the way down to the bottom. Pour all of the remaining butter on top and brush the sides of the phyllo as well. ​Place the pie onto a baking sheet to make it easier and safer to transfer from the oven. ​Bake for 45 - 60 minutes or until the pie is a deep golden color. ​As soon as the pie comes out of the oven, slice over the scored marks all the way down to the bottom. Pour all of the syrup over the pie. Sprinkle a generous amount of cinnamon on top and set aside for at least 30 minutes.​Enjoy

GALAKTOBOUREKO (GREEK CUSTARD PIE)

Steps:

• Beat the eggs with the sugar until thick.
• Add semolina, milk, zest and vanilla extract.
• Cook over a low heat until mixture thickens, stirring continuously.
• Remove from heat; stir in 4 tbsp butter.
• Butter a baking pan 9x12x2 inches and lay 2/3 of pastry sheets, brushing each sheet generously with melted butter.
• The edges of the pastry sheets should come up above the top of the pan.
• Spread milk custard mixture over pastry sheets and turn in the edges of the phyllo over the custard.
• Cover with remaining pastry sheets, buttering each one generously with melted butter once it gets into the baking pan.
• Pour any remaining butter over top.
• Cut through the first 3 pastry sheets (no one will kill you if it's 4! Just use a light touch and a very sharp, pointy knife.) in 3 inch squares and sprinkle pastry with water.
• Bake in a moderate (350°F-180°C) oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour- until golden on top (not golden-brown).
• Allow to cool.
• Boil the sugar, water and lemon juice for 5 minutes.
• Pour lukewarm syrup over the cooled 'Galaktoboureko'.
• Cool before serving.